A Pima County judge on Monday refused a request from Republican congressional candidate Martha McSally to block the counting of some provisional ballots in her undecided 2nd Congressional District race because they lacked the signature of an election worker.

While it’s nice to be liked as a politician, it’s better to be elected. And the results of this week’s balloting in Arizona challenge conventional wisdom and recent studies that suggest candidates with a more engaging social media presence are more likely to win elections.

Democratic Rep. Ron Barber needs to pick up at least 180 votes from the final batch of ballots Tuesday if he is to overcome a lead now held by Republican Martha McSally in Arizona's 2nd Congressional District race.

Outnumbered and out-financed in the land of Barry Goldwater, Democrats often trade with the currency of hope.
But even hope quickly collapsed under the weight of mathematical reality on Nov. 4, when Republicans swept statewide races in victory after victory. The success mirrored the party’s triumph at the national level, where the GOP expanded its dominance in the U.S. House and seized control of the U.S. Senate.

Elections officials in Pima County are set to count ballots that could decide whether incumbent Democrat Ron Barber or Republican Martha McSally wins Arizona's 2nd Congressional District seat.Elections officials in Pima County are set to count ballots that could decide whether incumbent Democrat Ron Barber or Republican Martha McSally wins Arizona's 2nd Congressional District seat.